Drake_2008_2abstr

TWO THREATS TO TERRAFORMING MARS AND

A DISCUSSION OF HOW TO COUNTER THEM

George Drake Ph.C.

ABSTRACT

Terraforming Mars is an extremely long and difficult undertaking. Minimum estimates for the project are in the rangeof 300+ years, with the more common estimates being higher by one to two hundred years. This is a surprise to many, as the expectations promoted by such pop culture movies as Star Trek and WALL-E emphasize unlimited technological advances. In fairness, the estimates above assume only current technology with, at most, moderate assumptions about new inventions. But, on the other hand, they also assume continuous effort toward the end goal of terraforming that planet. There are at least two obvious problems with such an assumption: space debris and politics as usual.